Gadsden Industry Expansions To Bring Jobs

The Gadsden City Council Tuesday approved tax abatements for two existing industries that will be adding a total of 15 jobs and investing $5.5 million in their facilities.

The council approved non-education tax abatements for Southern Cold Storage and Gadsden Fabrication Inc.

Gadsden Fabrication will be adding 10 jobs and investing $550,000 for growth and expansion into new markets.

The company is in the Gadsden Industrial Complex. It manufactures environmental pollution equipment and landfill compaction equipment.

It employs 50 people. The company was incorporated in 1999 and is owned by Larry and Paul Moon and Alan Norton.

Southern Cold Storage built its facility in August 2009 in conjunction with the Keystone Foods facility at Steele Station Road and Airport Road.

The company will be investing just more than $5 million and will add five employees to its work force of 20.

Southern Cold Storage General Manager James Robinson said the expansion will increase capacity for finished goods and assist Keystone in its production.

In other business, the council approved a settlement with the Alabama Department of Environmental Management concerning possible violations of regulations at the city construction and demolition landfill in Burns Park.

City Attorney Roger Kirby said in an interview the alleged violations involved not covering material in a timely matter as required by ADEM as well as the dumping of sludge, which is not allowed, in the landfill.

Fines could have totaled about $16,000, but he said the city negotiated a settlement to pay $7,000 in fines. The city also agrees to comply with regulations in the future. He said there was some confusion about when material had to be covered.

In the agreement, ADEM said it is not aware of any irreparable harm to the environment or any threat to the health and safety of the public.
By Andy Powell
Times Staff Writer